Apparatus for soldering lead wires to electrical units



1950 A. FERMANIAN ET AL 2,494,474

APPARATUS FOR SOLDERING LEAD WIRES T0 ELECTRICAL UNITS Filed Jan. 12, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG? INVEN TOPS A FERMAN/AN 6.44. SODERMAN MCJ. WORKMAN By WW A T TORNEY Jan. 10, 1950 A. FERMANIAN ET AL APPARATUS FOR SOLDERING LEAD WIRES T0 ELECTRICAL UNITS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 12, 1949 N M M S V 8 B m M M M M I T A m K D" Mam m A V R O W T 7 um N E S A I F a J- QQ a n I .8 NE NE Q9 1 9 5 a: Q Q Q 3 6& A G 32 JL; n k 9 M Z mm Egg g E: v9 n J m5 3 wv v2 98 $3 E 5 wk Q g 3 Q9 mm E 3 Q9 Jan. 10, 1950 A. FERMANiAN ET AL 2,494,474

APPARATUS FOR SOLDERING LEAD WIRES TO ELECTRICAL UNITS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 12, 1949 //vv/v TOAS A FERMAN/AN 6J4. SODERMAN M J. WORK/WAN A TTOP/VEV Jan. 10, 1950 FER NIAN ETAL 2,494,474

APPARAT SOLDERING LEAD WIRES ELECTRICAL UNITS Filed Jan. 12, -1949 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS AFERMAN/AN GWSODERMAN WJWORKMAN A 'T'TORNEY Patented Jan. 10, 1950 APPARATUS FOR SOLDERING LEAD WIRES TO ELECTRICAL UNITS Armen Fermanian, Rutherford, George W. Soderman, West Englewood, and William J. Workman,

North Arlington,

N. .l., assignors to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 12, 1949, Serial No. 70,422

11 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for soldering lead wires to electrical units, more particularly to fragile articles such as quartz or synthetic crystals.

In the manufacture of electrical units of which crystal wafers are to form parts thereof, difficulties arise during the processing of the crystal wafers and the soldering of lead wires thereto due to the brittle nature of the wafers, particularly when they have been reduced to the sizes desirable for the electrical units.

An object of the invention is to provide a soldering apparatus which is simple in structure and readily actuable only in a given manner to assure accurate soldering of lead wires to articles.

With this and other objects in view, the invention comprises an apparatus including a support for an article to which a lead wire is to be soldered, the article being supported in a fixed position while the lead wire is carried by an arm movable relative to the article to position the end of the lead wire in engagement with the given portion of the article. A heating element carried by the arm becomes energized when the lead Wire is in a position to be soldered whereby asolder ball carried by the lead wire will be fused, soldering the lead wire to the article.

More specifically, the soldering apparatus includes a clamp for one member of an article holder in which articles such as quartz or synthetic crystals of various thicknesses may be mounted singly. A pair of interlinked pivoted arms are disposed upon opposite sides of the article support and movable between loading positions and soldering positions. Soldering units for receiving lead wires are carried by the arms, one of them being mounted at a fixed position within its arm while the other unit is movable relative to its arm, through the aid of a calibrated dial or hand wheel, depending upon the thickness of the crystal in the holder. An interlocking mechanism associated with the arms and the clamping means for the holder permits actuation of the clamping means into open position to release the holder only when the arms are in their loading positions, the arms being held out of their soldering positions by this mechanism until the mechanism has been actuated to clamp the article holder. This is the result of a pin carried by one of the arms entering an aperture in an eccentric-like cam, which is utilized to actuate the clamping mechanism, only when the article support is in a proper position to be clamped, the pin holding the eccentric cam against actu- 2 ation to free the article support until the arms have been moved out of the soldering position.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the soldering apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken alon the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View of the soldering apparatus showing the arms with their soldering units in their loading positions;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the apparatus, portions thereof being shown in section;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of one of the arms and its soldering unit;

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view taken along the line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 'I'! of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 6;

Fig, 9 is an enlarged isometric view of an article such as a crystal and the relative positions of the lead wires about to be soldered thereto; and

Fig. 10 is an enlarged isometric view of the article after the lead wires have been soldered thereto.

Referring now to the drawings, the soldering apparatus includes vertical members and 21 having their lower ends mounted in a suitable support 22 and connected by spaced lateral members 23. The member 20 has a vertically extending groove 24 in its inner surface terminating at an aperture 25. Latches 26 and 21 in the form of spring pressed pins are mounted in the member 20, the pin-like ends of the latches being urged outwardly into the groove 24 through their apertures 28 and 29 under the forces of their springs 30 and 3|. The purpose of these latches will be described hereinafter.

The vertical member 2| has a vertical slot 33 disposed in general alignment with the groove 24 of the vertical member 20 and terminates short of an aperture 34 which is in axial alignment with the aperture 25. Pivot members 36 and 31 are disposed in the apertures 25 and 34 of the vertical members 20 and 2 I, the pivot members having aligned eccentric apertures 38 and 39 therein to receive a pivot pin 40 eccentric with the axes of the pivot members 38 and 31.

An arm 42 of the general contour shown has scription of the unit 11. a main member 80 circular in cross-section and an inwardly projecting lower portion 43 interposed between the vertical members and 2| and also the pivot members and 31 (Fig. 2) and is apertured at 44 to receive the pivot pin 45 which constitutes the pivotal support for the arm 42.

An arm 46, similar in general contour to the arm 42 has spaced parallel lower members 4'! positioned to straddle the lower member 43 of the arm 42 and provided with apertures 48 to receive the pivot members 36 and 3! which jointly constitute the pivota1 support for the arm 46. The pivot members 36 and 3'! are identical in structure and have apertures 59 at selected portions in their periphery to receive locking screws 5| (Fig. 1) only one of which is shown in the drawings.

The arm 42 has spaced parallel links 53 disposed upon each side of the lower portion 43 of the arm with their upper ends connected to a single pivot 54 carried by the portion. A single link 55, similar in contour to the links 53, but of greater thickness, equaling the thickness of the lower member 43 of the arm 42, has its upper end extending between the parallel portions 41 of the arm 46 where it is pivotally supported by a pin 58. The lower ends of the links 53 and 55 have aligned apertures therein for receiving a rod having ahead portion 6| with a concaved recess 63 therein to receive either of the latches 26 or 2'! when moved into registration therewith travelling in a guided path in the groove 24 during movement of the arms 42 and 46 between their upper or soldering positions and their lower or loading positions. A spring'65 having its upper end connected to a pin 66 carried by the vertical member 2| and its lower end connected to the rod 60, normally urges the arms 42 and 46 from the loading position shown in Fig. 3 to'the soldering position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A dashpot unit 15 including a cylindrical element 11 carried by the rod 60 and a piston-like element I2, supported by a bracket I3 mounted at M on the upper end of the vertical member 2|, acts to prevent rapid movement of the arms 42 and 46 into the soldering positions.

The arms 42 and 46 have integral tubular portions I5 and 16 for receiving and supporting soldering units 11 and I8 respectively. 'The units 11 and 18 are identical in structure and a description of the unit I8 shown in detail in Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 will apply equally well to the de- The unit 18 includes mounted in an aperture 8| of the tubular portion 16. Parallel apertures 82 are formedin the member to receive hypodermic needle-like tubular elements 83. The apertures 82 are enlarged for portions of their lengths to receive springs 84, adjusting screws 85 and the heads 86 of plungers 81 which enter the tubular elements 83 for a purpose hereinafter described. A reduced end 99 of the member 80 is cut away at 9| to the center thereof and through half the apertures-82 wherethe terminals are slit as indicated at 99 to receive the ends of heating elements I00 and NH. The terminals 98 are locked in place in their respective apertures by set screws I92. The heating elements I06 and NH are substantially identical in structure having helical portion surrounding the outer ends of their respective tubular elements 83, certain of their ends being disposed in the notches 99 of their respective terminals and clamped in place by the set screws I02 while the remaining ends of the heating elements are disposed in the notch 99 of the remaining terminal and clamped in place by its set screw H12.

A conductor I93, having its inner end electrically connected to the central terminal for both heating elements, is suitably insulated at I04 and extends longitudinally through an aperture in the main member 83 and through apertures in a plate I05 mounted on the opposite end of the member 80. Conductors I06 and I01 are electrically connected to the remaining terminals as illustrated in Fig. 8, these conductors being suitably insulated at I58 and I09 and extending through parallel apertures in the member 80 and in the plate I05. The conductors I06 for the heating elements IUI, when the units TI and I8 are moved into their soldering positions, will be under the control 01 a switch H5 (Fig. 2). The switch Ill) and its function for maintaining the heating elements 101 of units TI and I9 deenergized during operating cycles of the apparatus will be described hereinafter.

Attention is now directed to Fig. 9' which illus- "trates an article I I! to which lead wires 2 are to be soldered as illustrated in Fig. 10. In the present embodiment of the invention, the article I II is a synthetic crystal wafer which may have one or two lead wires soldered to opposing faces thereof. Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate how two lead wires are to be soldered to given portions of the opposing surfaces of the crystal. The article or crystal has disc-like metallic members 1 I4 securedtto the portions of each suriace'to which the ends of the lead wires are to be soldered. The lead wires are provided with solder balls H5 at their inner ends which are to be fused by the radiant heat from the heating-elements I and III] to cause soldering of the lead wires to the portions N4 of the crystal. If only one lead wire is to be secured to each side of the crystal, at disc-like member H4 will then 'be centrally located upon each face of the crystal to receive its respective lead wire.

The article or crystal I I I is centrally located in a holder Ill! which is the subject matter of a copending application of G. W. Soderman, Serial No.'55,5'l7, filed October 20, 1948. The holder H8 includes a main member H9 and a companion member 525, these members being urged toward each other by split cylindrical springs I 2 I to firmly hold the article H! at a given position therebetween, whereby the members I I4 will be properly positioned for the soldering of the lead wires H2 thereto. Spaced supporting elements 122 (Figs. 1. 2 and l) are disposed in vertical apertures I23 in the vertical members 25 and 21 and provided with head portions I 24 which rest upon a cam rod l25 disposed in aligned apertures I26 in the vertical members. Threaded sleeves I21 disposed in threaded end portions of the apertures E23 concentric with the supporting elements I22 serve as vertical guides for these elements and provide abutments for springs I28, which are disposed concentric with their supporting elements, to normally urge them downwardly against the cam I25. The cam I25, when in the position shown in Fig. 1 with its operating handle,l29 against its lower stop I39, positions the supporting elements to support the holder I I8 accurately for aligning the pairs of members II4 on the crystal I I I in alignment with pairs of the lead wires when disposed in their respective tubular elements 83 of the soldering units 11 and 18. A flat surface I3I on the cam I25 may be moved beneath the supporting elements I22 when the handle I29 is moved into engagement with the upper stop I32 to allow the springs I28 to lower the supporting elements whereby the lowermost tubular elements 83 and their heating elements II will be in alignment with the centerpoints of the crystals III.

The crystals III may vary in thickness. The holder I I8, however, mounted with the main member H9 in a fixed position, the position of the companion member I26 being variable with variations in the thickness of the crystals mounted in the holder. Clamping means are therefore provided to grip only the main member II9 of the holder I I8. These clamping means are shown in detail in Fig. 4 and include main members I34 mounted on their respective vertical members 26 and 2! and having shoulders I36 against which the main member I I9 of the holder is placed when resting upon the supporting elements I22. Clamping elements I31 are mounted for longitudinal movement in apertures I38 of their respective members I34 and are normally urged to the left by springs I39. The clamping forces of the clamping elements may be varied through adjustment of nuts I49, threadedly mounted on the elements, to vary the forces of the springs I39. One of the clamping elements I31 is provided with a spring pressed ball member I4I positioned to engage the adjacent end of the main member I I9 of the holder I I8 to urge the holder in the opposite direction against a locating surface I42 prior to the movement of the clamping elements into their final clamping positions forcing the main member of the holder against the surfaces I36. The clamping elements I31 have downwardly projecting portions I44 (Fig. 1) positioned in engagement with a rotatable cam I45 journalled in aligned apertures in the vertical members 20 and 2 I. End portions I46 of the cam I45 which engage the downwardly projecting portions I44 of the clamping elements are mounted eccentrically with respect to the axis of the cam I45 whereby rotation of the cam by the aid of a handle I41 from the closed position against the lower stop I48 to the open position against the upper stop I49 will bring about movement of the clamping elements I31 to the right (Fig. 4) against the forces of their springs I39. The key-like cam I45 has an aperture I50 in its central portion positioned to register with a pin I5I carried by the arm 46, when the cam is in the position shown in Fig. 1, assuring closing of the clamping elements against the holder H8. The cam I45 also acts to prevent movement of the arms 42 and 46 into their soldering positions until the holder with the crystal has been locked in place. This is made possible by the pin I5I striking the cam I45 and being held against further movement until the aperture I58 has been moved into the proper position to receive the pin.

It will be noted by viewing Fig. 3 that the arms 42 and 46 when in their loading position are disposed in a substantially horizontal plane with the elements 83 of the units 11 and 18 disposed in vertical positions to readily receive the lead wires I I2. One of the important features of this apparatus lies in the mechanism for accurately positioning the lead wires in engagement with their respective portions I I4 of the crystal III and under a predetermined pressure whereby a satisfactory soldering operation may be performed. Adjustable stops I53 and I54 in the form of adjustable screws disposed in threaded apertures of their respective arms are positioned to engage lateral members I55 and I56 interposed between the vertical members '20 and 2I and secured thereto. The stops I53 and I54, upon engaging their respective members I 55 and I56, will determine the vertical positions of the arms 42 and 46 and the distances the units 11 and 18 are spaced from the crystal I I I. The unit 18 in the arm 46, although movable longitudinally in its aperture 8| of the arm 46 when initially disposed therein, is held against rotation by a screw I58 mounted in the tubular portion 15 and having its inner end disposed in a longitudinal groove I59 of the member 80. A grooved retaining element I66 (Figs. 1 and 3), fixedly mounted on the arm 46, has a groove I6I positioned to receive the member I05 to hold the member 89 of the unit 18 at a fixed position in the arm 46. Adjustment of the unit 18 is not necessary in that the surfaces of the crystals III to which lead wires, placed in the unit; 18, will be secured and will always be at a given position governed by the positions of the locating surfaces I36 of the clamping mechanism shown in Fig. 4. It is essential, however, that the unit 11 be adjustable in the tubular portion 15 of the arm 42 to allow for variations in the thicknesses of the crystals III. The screw I58 for the main member 89 of the unit 11 extends into the longitudinal groove I59 a sufficient distance to allow longitudinal movement of the unit 11 in its tubular member 15 and hold the unit against rotation. An adjusting wheel I62 has a peripheral groove I63 to receive a portion of the end plate I of the unit 11 and to impart longitudinal movement to the unit during rotation of the adjusting wheel. The adjusting wheel is internally threaded and is mounted on a fixed position threaded element I64. A reduced portion I65 of the threaded element I64 is disposed in an aperture in the arm 42 and secured in place by a pin I66. A plate I61 carried by the threaded element I64 holds the wheel I62 against accidental removal from the threaded element I64. Indications I68 are disposed on the adjusting wheel I62 and movable relative to a fixed point which may be mounted on the plate I61 to indicate measured distances corresponding to thicknesses of the crystals I I I or distances from the inner face of the main member II9 of the holder II8.

Considering now the operation of the apparatus, let it be assumed that a holder II6 has an article or crystal III mounted therein to be placed in the apparatus. The handle I41 (Fig. 1) is moved from its position in engagement with the stop I48 into engagement with the stop I49, causing the clamping elements I31 to move to the right (Fig. 4) against the forces of their springs I39 after which the operator may readily position the holder II8 upon the supporting elements I22 adjacent the surfaces I36. This constitutes one part of the loading operation for the apparatus. To complete the loading operation, the operator places lead wires H2 in the tubular members 84 of both units 11 and 18, while the arms 42 and 46 are in the loading positions shown in Fig. 3.

If the operator should attempt to move the arms into their vertical or soldering positions belocating surfaces 136.

operations. means for the links 53 and 55, having its head fore the clamping means :for the :holder l 'l8-has been actuated into clamping position, the pin il-Eil (Fig. 3) will engage the central :portion 145 of the actuating cam .for the clamping mechanism, stopping "further movement "of the arms toward their vertical positions. The operator must then rotate the cam for the clamping :mechanism by moving the handle "Mal from en- ,gagementwith the stop M9 .into engagement with the stop M8. In this manner, :the aperture 150 will be moved to receive the pin 15! as illustrated inf-Fig.1 enabling the operator to complete movementcof the arms 42 and 46 into their vertical positions and to move the solder bearing ends.

H5 or the lead wires M2 into engagement with the portions H4 of the crystal EIH.

Returning to the clamping mechanism shown- :in 'Fig. Kl, it will be observed that the ball meme :b'er 1'45 will engage the adjacent end of the main member i l9 of the holder I I8 causing the holder to move until the opposite end thereof engages the locating surface M2 to accurately locate the holder inone direction, 'The clamping elements complete the accurate location .of the :holder when they are closed upon the mainm'emb'er l [9 and :move its ends into engagement with the The moving means for the clamping elements 131 is embodied .in the springs 39. The upper ends of the arms 42 and 36 constitute handles for the arms enabling the operator to readily move the arms between the leading position and the soldering position. It will be noted that the'links Hand '55 connecting the arms 42 and 46 maintain uniform and like movements in both arms so that when either arm is moved in one direction, the other arm will'follow it. This assures positioning of the lead wires H2 in engagement with their respective surfaces of the crystals simultaneously and also movement of the unit l1 and '78 away from the crystals after the completion of the soldering The rod 2 .9, which is the connecting portion iii riding in the vertical groove'24, maintains uniform positioning of the arms "42 and 46 with their units T! and 18. 'The latches-Hand 2'? also function to temporarily secure the arms intheir soldering and loading positions. 'It'is the purpose of the spring 65 to assist the operator in moving the arms with their respective units 'into the soldering positions, while 'at the same time the dashpot unit '10 cushions the movement 'of the arms with their units to eliminate the possibility of damage to the lead wires or the crystal by rapid movement of theunits'supporting the lead wires into the soldering positions.

The springs 84 '(Fig. 5) of the unit "[1 and 18 ,jacent the portions vilhl, the heating elements HlB and ii]! may be energized through the .closin'g'of electrical circuits therefore, these circuits being closed either .automatically or manually by suitable means (not shown). The radiant heat from the heating elements will in a short length .of time fuse the solder balls H5, .thus soldering the lead wires M2 to the portions -l-I4'-of thecrystal Mi. After thelapse of a given length of time for this operation, the electrical circuits to the .heating elements are opened. The operator may then move the arms 42 and 45 with their units Ti and Jill from the soldering positions into the loading positions. Should. the operator attempt to remove the holder 1 1 8 with the completed article, :before the arms with their respective soldering omits .are moved into the .loading positions, or a fsufiicient distance :away from the article to lree the lead "wires which have been soldered to the article, it would not be possible to actuate the Iclamping mechanism through movement of the handle M] as this mechanism is held against operation by the pin 15! being disposed in the aperture I59. However, after the arms have been returned to their loading positions, the operator may freely actuate the handle Ml counterclockwise into engagement with the stop 1M9 freeing the holder H8 with the completed article, whereby it may be removed from the apparatus and another holder, with its article or crystal, disposed in the clamping mechanism.

If the article or crystal the holder 3 58 has "only one of the members H 3 centrally mounted on each s'ide thereof toreceive one lead wire upon each side, in place or two as previously-described, the operator may readily condition the apparatus forithis operation. The handle 129 (Fig. l) is moved from the stop 530 to the stop 552, rotating the cam i725 until the fiat surfaces 35 are parallel with the head portions i2! of the supporting elements F22 allowing downward movement of the supporting elements under the forces of their springs !28 whereby the supporting elements will accurately locate the central members N4 of the crystal in alignment with the lower tubular elements 83 of the units IT and i8. At the same time, during rotation of the cam 1'25, the switch Hi3 (Fig 2) is operated to open the previously described circuits to the upper heating elements Hill of the units "FI and 78, maintaining the circuits to the lower heating elements Nil effective to solder'the single wires to the members I14 of the article or crystal. The operation of the apparatus is the same .for either single wires or d'ouble'wires with the one exception; namely, that the operator places single wires in the innermost elements '83 of .the units 1'! and [3 when in the loading position which will be the lowermost elements 83 in the soldering positions. Otherwise the operation of the apparatus is the same.

'is to be understood that the above described arrangementsare.simplyillustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and "scope thereof.

that is claimed is :1. In a soldering :apparatus, a support for an article to whicha partis 'to .besc'ldered, a clamp :to iremovably clamp *the article on the support, aholder i'for thepart 'to be soldered to the article movable into and out of soldering position rein-- tive to the support for the article, and means operableformovement of the clamp into and out of its clamping position and to bar movement of the .holder'into :its soldering position until the .clampiis :moved into .its gripping position.

2. In a soldering apparatus, a support for an article .to'which .a part is to be soldered, a clamp to :removabl clamp the article on the support, a holderifor the part to-be soldered to the article movable into and out of soldering position relative to the support for the article, an actuator movable between given limits to effect movement of the clamp into and out of clamping position,

and an element movable with the holder to engage the actuator to bar movement of the holder into its soldering position until the clamp is moved into its clamping position to hold the article against displacement, the element rendering the actuator immovable to operate the clamp to free the article until the holder is moved out of its soldering position.

3. In a soldering apparatus, a support for an article to which a part is to be soldered, a clamp to removably clamp the article on the support, a holder for the part to be soldered to the article movable into and out of soldering position relative to the support for the article, a-projection movable with the holder, and a key operable to effect movement of the clamp into and out of its clamping position and having an aperture therein whereby the said projection may be received therein to eiTect movement of the holder into its soldering position only when the key is, moved to effect movement of the clamp into its clamping position, the projection in the aperture of the key holding the key against operation of the lamp to free the article until the holder is moved t of its soldering position to move the projection out of the aperture of the key.

4. In an apparatus for soldering a lead wire to an article, a suppgrt for' the article, a clamp to removably lamp" the article on the support, a soldering unit having a tubular member to receive and support the lead wire for movement into engagement with the article, an electrical heating element extending around the tubular member and energizable to effect soldering of the lead wire to the article, and means to support the soldering unit for movement between a loading position away from the support and a soldering position adjacent the support.

5. In an apparatus for soldering a lead wire to an article, a support for the article, a clamp to removably clamp the article on the support, a soldering unit having a tubular member to receive and support the lead wire for movement into engagement with the article, a spring pressed plunger extending into the inner end of the tubular member to act as a cushion for the lead wire when the outer end of the lead wire is moved into engagement with the article, an electrical heating element extending around the tubular member and energizable to effect soldering of the lead wire to the article, and means to support I;

the soldering unit for movement between a loading position away from the support and a soldering position adjacent the support.

6. In an apparatus for soldering one or more lead wires to an article, a support for the article mounted for movement in one position, for locating the article for soldering one lead wire thereto, and in another position for soldering more than one lead wire thereto, a soldering unit having parallel tubular members disposed at spaced posl- I tions to receive and support lead wires for movement into engagement with given portions of the article relative to its center, an electrical heating element for each tubular member energizable to effect soldering of the lead wires to the article, means to support the soldering unit for movement between a loading position away from the support and a soldering position adjacent the sup port, and a transferring element actuable to transfer the support into either of its positions.

lead wires to an article, a support for the article mounted for movement in one position, for 10- eating the article for soldering one lead wire thereto, and in another position for soldering more than one lead wire thereto, a soldering unit having parallel tubular members disposed at spaced positions to receive and support lead wires for movement into engagement with given portions of the article relative to its center, an electrical heating element for each tubular member energizable to effect soldering of the lead Wires to the article, means to support the soldering unit for movement between a loading position away from the support and a soldering position adjacent the support, a transferring element actuable to transfer the support into either of its positions, and an electrical switch operated by the actuation of the transfer element to render either one oral] the heating elements energizable when the support for the article is respectively located' for the soldering of one and. all the lead wires thereto. i

8. In an apparatus for soldering a lead wire to an article, a support for the article, afixed position side locating surface to be engaged by one side of the article, a fixed position end locating surface to be engaged by one end of the article, a clamping element actuable to engage the article and clamp it against the side locating surface, means actuable with the clamping element to force the article against the end locating surface prior to the clamping of the article against the side locating surface, means to actuate the clamping element, and means to solder lead wires to the article.

9. In an apparatus for soldering a lead wire to an article, a support for the article, a clamp to removably clamp the article on the support, a soldering unit having a tubular member to receive and support the lead wire for movement into engagement with the article, an electrical heating element extending around the tubular member and energizable to effect soldering of the lead wire to the article, an arm to support the soldering unit movable between a loading position, to receive the lead wire, and a soldering position, to position the lead wire in engagement with the article, and calibrated means to move the soldering unit measured distances in the arm to vary the position of the soldering unit when in the soldering position, relative to the article.

10. An apparatus for soldering lead wires to an article mounted at a given position in a holder composed of a main member and a companion member urged toward each other to firmly hold the article at a given position therein, and exposed central portions of opposing sides to which the lead wires are to be soldered, the apparatus comprising a support for the holder, fixed position side and end locating surfaces to be engaged by one side and one end of the main member of the holder to locate one surface of the article at a predetermined position in a given plane, means to clamp the main member of the holder against the locating surfaces, pivotally supported companion arms movable between loading positions and soldering positions, links connecting the arms, a rod connecting the links, means to guide the rod in a fixed path during movement of the links whereby movement of one arm will impart carried'by the arms and including parallel-tubular members toreceive and support the lead wiresya heating: element extending around each tubular member and energizable to effect soldering of the lead wires to the article, means to fixedly secure oneof'the soldering units'in its arm, calih'rated in terms of article thickness to adjust the other soldering unit relative to its arm, and a dashpotunit connected to the said rod to hold the arms against rapid" movement of the solderingunits into their soldering positions.

11. An apparatus for soldering lead wires'toan article" mounted. ata given position in a holder composed of a main" member and a companion member urged toward each other to firmly hold the article at a given position therein, and" exposed central portions ofopposin'g sides to-which the lead wires' are to be soldered, the apparatus comprising a support for the holder, fixed position 'side and end locating surfaces to be engaged by one side and one end of the main member of the holder to locate onev surface of the article at a predetermined position in a given plane, means to clamp the main member of the holder against the locating surfaces, pivotall'y supported companion armsmovable' between loading posi tions and solderingpositions, linksconnecting the arms, a rod connecting the links, means to guide the rod in a fixed'path during movement of the links whereby movement of" one arm will impart a like movement to the other arm, latches" to cooperate with: the rod' tohold the arms in the soldering and loading positions, soldering units carried by the arms and including parallel tubular members to receive and support the lead wires, a heating element extending around each tubular member and energizable to effect soldering of the lead wires to the article, means to fixedly secure one of the soldering units in its arm, calibratedin terms'of article thickness to adjustthe other soldering'unit relative to its arm, a dashpot unit connected to-thesaid rod to hold the arms against rapid movement of the soldering units into their soldering positions, an actuator to cause movement of the support for the holder to locatev the article to receive alead wire adjacent the center thereof from each soldering imit,v and a switch under the control of the actuator to render only one heating element on each soldering unit efiective to solder single lead wires toeach side of the article.

ARMEN FERMANIAN.

GEORGE W. SODERMAN.

WILLIAM J. WORKMAN.

REFERENCES CITED' The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,435,470 Hosford Nov. 14, 192- FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 580,790 Great Britain Sept. 19, 1346 

